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Essendon seek to suspend ASADA probe

Lawyers acting for Essendon will seek an immediate halt to ASADA's investigations into the AFL club's 2012 supplements program.

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers said on Monday it would file an application in the Federal Court for an urgent injunction to stop the anti-doping authority from continuing its inquiries - including the requirement for players to respond to show-cause notices - until the Bombers' challenge to the legality of the investigation is heard.

The court had not received an injunction by close of business on Monday, but it is expected ahead of Friday's hearing.

The injunction also seeks to prevent the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel (ADRVP) from considering whether to put any players on ASADA's register of findings - a task they are required to do after the show-cause response period has expired on July 11.

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ASADA said it had made a "genuine attempt to seek a compromise" on Essendon's concerns and expedite matters.

"ASADA believes the decision by Essendon to lodge an application for an urgent injunction is premature, given the further extension provided by ASADA today," a statement read.

The second extension is to at least 11 July 2014, but the players will also get seven days' notice before any final decision to refer their matters to the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel.

Josh Bornstein, a principal at Maurice Blackburn, said it was "very disappointing" that Essendon needed to make the application after ASADA refused several requests to suspend the investigation.

"We have written three times to ASADA's lawyers seeking their co-operation to ensure this matter is dealt with quickly by the court and that pending a quick hearing, the investigation and show-cause process be halted (but) on each occasion ASADA has failed to agree to our request for an appropriate undertaking," Bornstein said in a statement.

"It's in the interests of all concerned - the club, the players, the AFL and the football community more broadly - for this legal challenge to be dealt with as quickly as possible.

"It is only fair that ASADA commit to take no further steps in its investigation until after the Federal Court has ruled on the legality of the investigation.

"If ASADA proceeds, the court will be prevented from effectively ruling on the legality of the investigation because events will have overtaken the legal process.

"Extending the date for responses to the show-cause notices until 11 July, and committing to not provide information to the ADRVP until 12 July, does not go far enough."